Moon's Whisper, Heart's Echo

21.The Rumor

Dawn had barely touched the eastern sky when Lady Park appeared at Nandi's gate, her jade ornaments chiming softly with each step. Min-joon spotted her first, abandoning his breakfast to run to the courtyard.

"Halemoni!" His face brightened. "You came!"

Lady Park's stern features softened as she adjusted his crooked collar. "A promise is a promise. Though I see someone was too excited to finish his meal properly."

"Tae-young sends his regrets," she added, looking to Nandi. "Some urgent business required his attention. But he asked if I might keep his promise to show Min-joon the market square."

"That's not necessary—" Nandi began.

"Can we see the puppet show?" Min-joon tugged at Lady Park's sleeve, his rice-sticky fingers leaving faint marks on the expensive silk. "He said there would be dragons!"

"Careful with Lady Park's clothes," Nandi chided gently.

"Oh, let him be." Lady Park wiped his hands with her own handkerchief, the gesture achingly maternal. "A little rice never ruined anything important." She looked to Nandi. "Master Song has already agreed to reschedule. And I believe a young scholar deserves rewards for improving his characters."

"Please, Eomma?" Min-joon's eyes grew impossibly wide. "I'll practice extra tomorrow!"

Something in Lady Park's expression - a flash of fierce protectiveness as she smoothed Min-joon's hair - made Nandi relent. "Very well. But mind your manners."

"Always!" Min-joon was already pulling on his shoes, nearly tripping in his haste.

They made an odd pair heading toward the market square - the elegantly dressed noblewoman and her energetic companion, Min-joon chattering about dragons while Lady Park listened with genuine interest.

"He has your spirit," Lady Park said softly, catching Nandi's worried look. "But our protection as well."

Before Nandi could process the weight of those words, they were gone - Min-joon's excited chatter fading into the morning.

She stood watching until they disappeared around the corner.

The morning air carried the scent of fresh bread, while somewhere in the market square, a nobleman's mother and a matchmaker's son were about to upend the careful balance of power that had held their world in check.

The puppet seller was arranging his morning display when Min-joon spotted the dragon - all red silk and golden scales, its painted eyes catching the early light.

"Halemoni Park, look!" He released her hand to dart forward, weaving between market-goers with childish determination. "It's just like in Uncle Park's stor—"

The collision was inevitable. His small body crashed into silk skirts, sending a fan clattering across stone. Min-joon froze, recognition dawning as he looked up into Lady Yi's carefully painted face.

"I..." His voice shrunk to nothing. The confident boy who'd been chattering about dragons moments ago disappeared, replaced by someone smaller, uncertain.

Lady Yi's mouth tightened, but something flickered in her eyes - perhaps remembering another small boy who'd once chased dragons through her own courtyard.